A mobile terminal comprising a first frame, a second frame coupled to the first frame and extendable with respect to the first frame in a first direction, wherein the second frame comprises a third rear portion and a first roller disposed on the third rear portion at a first end of the second frame in the first direction; a flexible display unit comprising a first end and being rolled around the first roller; a driving unit coupled to the first frame and moves the second frame in the first direction or in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a connection band for curving around a first end of the third rear portion in the second direction, wherein the connection band has a first end connected to the driving unit and a second end coupled to a second end of the flexible display unit.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A mobile terminal comprising: a first frame; a second frame coupled to the first frame in a manner of being extendable in a first direction, wherein the second frame includes a first rear portion moving along a rear face of the first frame and a first roller disposed on the first rear portion at an end in the first direction of the second frame; a flexible display unit having one end fixed to a front face of the first frame and surrounding the first roller; a driving unit fixed to the first frame and moving the second frame in the first direction or in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and a connection band for surrounding an end in the second direction of the first rear portion, wherein the connection band has one end connected to the driving unit and an other end fixed to the other end of the flexible display unit.
2. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the connection band has a uniform length, and provides a tension in the second direction to the other end of the flexible display unit.
3. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , further comprising: a third frame connected to the other end of the flexible display unit, and moving in the first direction or in the second direction along a rear face of the first rear portion, wherein the other end of the connection band is coupled to an end in the second direction of the third frame.
4. The mobile terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first rear portion includes a second roller surrounded by the connection band and rotating at the end in the second direction of the first rear portion.
5. The mobile terminal of claim 4 , wherein the first rear portion includes a support member for providing elasticity in the second direction to the second roller.
6. The mobile terminal of claim 5 , wherein the support member includes: a shaft fixing portion for surrounding at least a portion of a rotating shaft of the second roller; and a shaft support portion for elastically supporting the shaft fixing portion in the second direction.
7. The mobile terminal of claim 6 , wherein the shaft fixing portion and the shaft support portion are integrally formed by bending a single metal member in the support member.
8. The mobile terminal of claim 7 , wherein a connection portion for connecting the shaft fixing portion and the shaft support portion with each other is formed to be directed in the second direction in the support member.
9. The mobile terminal of claim 4 , wherein the driving unit includes: a pinion gear for rotating in the first direction or in the second direction; and a motor assembly for controlling a rotation of the pinion gear, wherein the first rear portion includes a rack gear engaged with the pinion gear on a front face thereof.
10. The mobile terminal of claim 9 , wherein the second roller is disposed at an end in the second direction of the rack gear.
11. The mobile terminal of claim 10 , wherein the first frame includes: a first front portion for fixing the one end of the flexible display unit thereto; and a second rear portion spaced apart from the first front portion to define therebetween a mounting space for mounting the driving unit therein, wherein the second rear portion is in contact with the first rear portion, wherein the second rear portion includes a guide hole for inserting the rack gear therein and for guiding a movement of the rack gear in the first direction or in the second direction.
12. The mobile terminal of claim 11 , wherein the motor assembly includes: a motor for providing a rotation power to the pinion gear; and a motor casing for mounting the motor therein, wherein the motor casing includes a guide groove for supporting the rack gear and guiding the movement of the rack gear in the first direction or in the second direction.
13. The mobile terminal of claim 12 , wherein the motor casing includes a connection portion to be connected to the one end of the connection band, wherein the connection portion is spaced apart from a rear face of the first front portion.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 16, 2020
December 21, 2021
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